Then came the meal. Jake’s desire to eat like a king was not feasible given our existing food budget. Organic, non-GMO, and free-range everything? That material wasn’t inexpensive.
“$700 per month for groceries,” I wrote. He’d probably have to pitch in for a culinary lesson as well. Those were expensive, but perfection isn’t free.
I sat back in my chair, chuckling as I imagined Jake’s reaction when he saw this. But I wasn’t finished. Oh no, the pièce de résistance was still to arrive.
See, there was no way I could manage all of these obligations while keeping my job. If Jake wanted me to devote myself full-time to his ludicrous routine, he’d have to pay for the loss of my earnings.
I used a calculator to estimate the worth of my pay. Then I added it to the list, along with the following note: “$75,000 per year to replace Lisa’s salary since she will now be your full-time personal assistant, maid, and chef.”
My stomach hurt from laughing by this point.
And, just for good measure, I said that he should enlarge the house. After all, if he was going to have his pals around on a regular basis, they’d need a designated location that wouldn’t interfere with my newly arranged, ridiculously regimented existence.
“$50,000 to build a separate ‘man cave’ so Jake and his friends don’t disrupt Lisa’s schedule.”
By the time I finished, the list was a masterpiece. A financial and logistical headache, indeed, but a masterpiece nevertheless. It was more than simply a counterattack; it was a wake-up call.
I printed it out, set it neatly on the kitchen counter, and waited for Jake to come home. When he finally walked through the door that evening, he was in a good mood.
He shouted out, “Hey, babe,” and dropped his keys on the counter. He found the paper almost immediately. “What’s this?”
I kept my expression calm, resisting the impulse to chuckle as I watched him pick it up. “Oh, it’s just a little list I put together for you,” I added affectionately, “to help you become the best husband ever.”
Jake chuckled, thinking I was playing along with his little game. But as he scanned the first few lines, the grin started to fade. I could see the wheels turning in his head, the slow realization that this wasn’t the lighthearted joke he thought it was.
“Wait… what is all this?” He squinted at the numbers, his eyes widening as he saw the total costs. “$1,200 for a personal trainer? $700 a month for groceries? What the hell, Lisa?”
CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE
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